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Egyptian host。 The Nile murmured with its blood…red waves the death…
song of the brave Mamelukes； and the 〃forty centuries〃 which looked
down from the pyramids were obliterated by the glorious victories
that Bonaparte gained at the foot of those sacred monuments。 A new
epoch was to begin。 The old epoch was buried for Egypt； and out of
the ruins of past centuries a new Egypt was to be born； an Egypt
which was to serve France and be tributary to it as a vassal。
This was Bonaparte's plan； and he did every thing to bring it to
completion。 He passed from battle to battle； from victory to
victory； and after conquering Egypt and taking up his residence in
Cairo； he at once began to organize the newly…won country； and to
introduce to the idle and listless East the culture of the earnest
and progressive West。 But Egypt would not accept the treasures of
culture at the hand of its conqueror。 It rose again and again in
rebellion against the power that held it down； and hurled its
flaming torches of revenge against the hated enemy。 A token of this
may be seen in the dreadful revolt at Cairo； which began in the
night of the 20th of October； and； after days of violence； ended
with the cruel cutting down of six thousand Mamelukes。 A proof of it
may be seen in the constantly renewed attacks of swarms of Bedouins
and Mamelukes on the French army。 These hordes advanced even to the
gates of Cairo； and terrified the population； which had at last
taken refuge beneath the foot of the conqueror。 But Bonaparte
succeeded in subjugating the hostile Bedouin tribes； as he had
already subjugated the population of the cities。 He sent one of his
adjutants； General Croisier； with a corps of brave soldiers； into
the desert to meet the emir of the hostile tribes； and Croisier won
respect for the commands of his general。 He succeeded in taking
captive the whole body。 A fearful sentence was inflicted on them。
Before the eyes of their wives； their children； and their mothers；
all the men of the tribe； more than five hundred in number； were
killed and their heads put into sacks。 The howling and weeping women
and children were driven to Cairo。 Many perished of hunger on the
road； or died beneath the sabre…blows of their enemies； but more
than a thousand succeeded in reaching Cairo。 They were obliged to
encamp upon the great square El Bekir； in the heart of Cairo； till
the donkeys arrived which bore the dreadful spoils of victory in
blood…dripping bags upon their backs。 The whole population of Cairo
was summoned to this gigantic square； and was obliged to look on
while the sacks were opened and the bloody heads rolled out upon the
sacred soil of Egypt。
After this time quiet reigned for a season。 Horror had brought the
conquered into subjection； and Bonaparte could continue his
victorious course。 He withdrew to Syria； taking with him Kleber and
Kleber's young adjutant； the little Louis。 He saw the horrors of
war； he was there； the son of the Kings of France； when the army of
the republic conquered the cities El Arish and Gaza； he took part by
the side of Kleber in the storming of Jaffa。 He was there when the
captured Jaffa had to open its gates to the victors。 He was there
when； in the great caravansary； four thousand Turkish soldiers
grounded their arms and surrendered themselves as prisoners； after
receiving the promise that their lives should be spared。 He was
there； too； the son of Marie Antoinette； when the unfortunates were
driven down to the sea…coast and shot； in order that their enemies
might be rid of them。 He was there； the son of Louis XVI。； when
Bonaparte visited the pest…house in Jaffa； he walked through the
sick…rooms at the side of his uncle Kleber； who noticed how the face
of the young man； which had so often been calm in meeting death on
the battle…field or in the storm of assault； now quivered； and the
paleness of death swept over his cheeks。
〃What was the matter； my son？〃 asked Kleber； as he returned home
from this celebrated visit to the pest…house。 〃Why did you turn pale
all at once； Louis？〃
〃General；〃 responded Louis； perplexed； 〃I know not how to answer。〃
〃You ought not to have gone with me to the hospital；〃 said Kleber；
shaking his head。 〃You know I did not want you to go at first； but
you insisted on it； and begged and implored so long that at last I
had to yield and let you accompany us。 But； I confess it myself； it
was a dreadful sight； these sick people with their swollen bodies
covered with blood and running sores。 I understand now why you
trembled and turned paleyou were afraid of this dreadful
sickness？〃
〃No； general；〃 answered Louis； softly〃no； I have no fear。 Did you
not notice that I sprang forward and assisted General Bonaparte；
when he lifted up the poor sick man who lay on the floor before the
door； and that I helped carry him into the room？〃
〃I saw it； Louis； and I was much pleased with your courage； and was
therefore surprised afterward when you turned pale and trembled； and
I saw tears in your eyes。 What agitated you all at once so much？〃
The young man slowly raised his head and looked at Kleber with his
great blue eyes。 〃General；〃 he said； softly； 〃I myself do not know
what agitated me so much。 We were both standing before the bed of a
sick man； to whom I handed a pitcher of water which he begged for
earnestly。 He fixed his great eyes upon me； and his quivering lips
murmured： 'God bless you！ all saints and angels protect you！' As he
spoke these words； there resounded in my heart the echo of a time
long since past。 It seemed to me as if suddenly a dark curtain
parted； and I looked as in a dream at a wondrous； brilliant
spectacle。 I saw a beautiful and dignified woman of princely figure；
of noble； majestic nature。 With her I saw two children； a girl and a
boy； whom she led by the hand； and with whom she walked through a
long hall which was filled with rows of beds。 And as she walked
there； it seemed as if the sun lightened up the dismal hall； and
illumined the pale faces of the sick ones。 They raised themselves up
in their beds and extended their thin； emaciated hands to the tall
lady； and thanked her with earnest blessings for her visit and her
comforting words。 There was only one of the patients who did not
rise； but lay stiff upon his bed and moaned and sighed and whispered
unintelligible words； which no one heeded； because the attention of
all was fixed upon the great visitor。 But the boy who was walking by
the side of the tall lady had understood the sobs of the sick one。
He left his mother； took the jug which stood upon a table between
two beds； filled a glass with water from it； and held it to the dry；
quivering lips of the sick one。 He drank greedily； and then fixed
his eyes upon the boy and lisped the words： 'God bless you！ all
saints and angels protect you！' And all the people repeated aloud：
'God bless you； all saints and angels protect you！' The dignified
lady stooped with a heavenly smile to her son； pressed a tender kiss
upon his golden locks； and repeated the same words aloud。 This；
general； was the fantasy which suddenly appeared before my eyes when
the patient spoke those words to…day。 It see